UPDATE: Board introduces new police chief

The Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB) has named the capital's new police chief. 

Eric Stubbs, an assistant commissioner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in British Columbia has been named the new chief of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). 

Stubbs was introduced through Zoom because he contracted COVID-19 and could not travel to Ottawa for the announcement. 

“I am here for all the right reasons,” he said. “I am here to work with the great team at OPS, to work with city and the community to make this community safe.”

Stubbs was introduced on the final business day before the 2022 municipal election. Mayoral candidates Catherine McKenney and Bob Chiarelli have spoken against hiring a new police chief before the election, while Mark Sutcliffe, another mayoral hopeful, said the board needs to hire a police chief as soon as it can. 

OPSB chair Eli-El Chantiry said the decision was not rushed. 

“The board voted unanimously back in July to continue with the recruitment of a new chief of police and we worked very hard,” he said. 

McKenney said they are ready to work with the new police chief after issuing a statement congratulating Stubbs on his appointment. 

“The concern with this process has never been about who is being hired,” they said. “It's about the process unfolding days before an election in the middle of a national inquiry. The wave of criticism from the general public has further illustrated how this process was inappropriate. Months after the convoy occupation shut down our city, with weeks of inaction of our police service, rebuilding public trust within the Ottawa Police Service is of the utmost importance.”

Sucliffe told The Sam Laprade Show on Oct. 21 that the process of hiring a new police chief was never up to the mayor or council, it's up to the board. 

“The job of the next mayor of Ottawa is to work with the new police chief because we need to build trust in our police service and the best way to do that is to have strong leadership in place,” he said. 

Deputy Chief Steve Bell has been serving as interim chief since mid-February, after the resignation of Peter Sloly during the 'Freedom Convoy' occupation in February. 

In July, the OPSB approved a motion to begin recruiting a new police after the board conducted public consultations. In August, the OPS invited interested candidates to apply for the position and held interviews in late September and early October.

One member of the OPSB has spoken out about the hiring process. Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper said he has supported hiring a police chief until after the election. 

He added he was on vacation when the board voted to proceed with the hiring process and the vote was unanimous in his absence. 

“I would have dissented as the sole vote against and I have continued to express my preference that the board hold off on a decision, but I abide by majority rule,” he said in his statement. 

Leiper said he supports the appointment of Stubbs. Leiper and fellow board member Coun. Cathy Curry were absent from today's announcement due to election blackout rules as both are seeking re-election in their respective wards. 

“I look forward to working with soon-to-be chief Stubbs on improving policing in this city,” said Leiper. “He has my support. We have much work ahead.”